Ultrason is the trade name for BASF’s product range of polyethersulfone (Ultrason E), polysulfone (Ultrason S) and polyphenylsulfone (Ultrason P).
The BASF polyphenylsulfone contributes to the durability of the sensor because of its high toughness and chemical resistance. Therefore, the milk meters can withstand the rough farm environment as well as the repeated cleaning of the milk meters. The transparent Ultrason grade supports visual checking of the milk flowing through the metering device and in the long run does not show any discoloration. It also meets Milkrite | InterPuls’s requirements regarding food contact approval.
Milk meter sensors are used to control the volume and quality of the milk still within the milking process. The milk can be weighed and its conductivity can be measured. Milkrite | InterPuls selected Ultrason P because farmers can see through the transparent material to check the milk’s appearance.
According to BASF, dairy components made of Ultrason P can withstand kicks by cows, farm dung and then be easily cleaned by many different cleaning agents retaining both transparency and high mechanical strength, also demonstrating a high resistance to stress cracking.
Stefano Ferri, global R&D program and intellectual property manager at milkrite | InterPuls, said: "We appreciate the characteristics of BASF’s Ultrason in this important component of dairy technology. It contributes to the excellent performance of our milk meters like iMilk600, iMilkNano and ACRsmart MMV which are the heart of the demanding milking process and contribute to a reliable and accurate milk quality control. The sensor housing is a complex technical part exposed to high stress in a challenging environment with superior demands on its continuous-use properties."
The medium-viscosity grade Ultrason P 3010 also enables a compact design of the milk meter, ensuring a stable vacuum and foam-free performance.
Georg Graessel from global business development Ultrason at BASF, said: “For other demanding components in dairy technology, like manifolds and buffers, BASF offers further optimized polyarylethersulfones. The grades Ultrason P 2010, E 2010 and E 3010 meet different demands on toughness and superior chemical performance like resistance against superheated steam needed for repeated cleaning.”
When the milk is further processed, all these Ultrason grades can also be used for the production equipment of dairy foods like cheeses, yogurts and curd. These foods contain a high level of butterfat usually causing stress cracking in other materials. Made of Ultrason, these components are said to show a high wearability and durability.
